Graphic MD commends media for role in Ghana's electoral processes
Accra, Oct 19, GNA – Mr Ken Ashiegbey, Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group, on Friday lauded the media for their role in the improvement of the electoral processes of the country.
He said Ghana’s elections, especially transparency with elections, had come this far due to the enormous role played by the media, especially reportage on electoral issues since 1992.
Addressing student journalists during a workshop organized by the International Institute of Journalism, PenPlusbytes in Accra Mr Ashiegbey lauded the media for the swift manner in which issues pertaining to elections were reported by the use of digital devices.
“Due to the hard work of the media and the emergence of the digital devices, reports are now swifts, right from the polling centres as well as on the spot issues.
“Accurate reports on election results would leave the loser with no other option but to accept it because a lot of light might thrown on the on it already”, he said.
He appealed to the students to explore the digital paradigm to know more about happenings around them in order to be abreast with time.
Mr Eric Akowuah, Director of Operations, National Information Technology Agency (NITA), extolled the crucial role played by technology, especially the internet and social media in the education of the masses on government issues.
He said governments, globally, are using the power of the internet to transform governance, empower and educate the citizenry on their policies, and advised the media to continue to use the mass media to their advantage.
He said NITA had rolled out eleven electronic services (e-services) aimed at making service provision and access to certain information easier.
“Some of our e-services include information on passports acquisition and business and marriage registrations in Ghana on our site www.eservices.com”, he added.
He described Kenya as a shining example in Africa on its open data policies, adding that Ghana was also working on developing such a policy for its citizen.
Mr Akowuah cited delay in the release of important data to the public and the ability or inability to determine the sort of information or data to churn out as some of the issues militating against the open data system worldwide.
The workshop attracted journalism students from the Jayee University College (JUC), the African University College of Communications (AUCC) and the National Films and Television Institute (NAFTI).http://www.penplusbytes.org/images/spacer.gif
This Bootcamp or workshop formed part of Penplusbytes’ efforts to promote the use of new media tools in journalism and the newsroom and it comes at the opportune time when Ghanaians are gearing up for the upcoming general elections where social media had to be harnessed by the ordinary citizen to ensure credible and transparent elections.
The theme for this year’s edition is "Improving the Quality of Ghana’a 2012 Elections Coverage through Data Journalism Application” and it’s expected to cover key topics such as "Introduction to Data Journalism", covering elections powered by data journalism and visualization with special focus on interactive school team projects.
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